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INFO // quotes

Quotes from Ryan

2006 WORLD SHORT COURSE CHAMPIONSHIPS

  • [On breaking the 200IM world record at '06 Short Course Worlds] “I’m absolutely shocked. That was a pretty exciting race, and I just can’t believe I broke a world record. During the race, I had no idea I was going that fast. That’s my first world record, and I don’t think the reality has set in yet.”

    • 2006 NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS

  • [After his 200 yd Back at '06 NCAAs] "It's sad that it was my last individual race. But to have my team and family behind me was the greatest thing. I'm happy where I am."
  • [On his 200 yd Back race at '06 NCAAs] "Go out there, go out fast, hold on for dear life and bring it in as fast as I could."
  • [On breaking the American Record in all his events at '06 NCAAs] "It feels great. I had my family, my team, everyone supporting me. It's the third day, everyone is tired, but you have to go out there and step up and swim your heart out."
  • [On tying current asst. coach Anthony Nesty's record for most FL individual championships] "It means everything. He has been my coach for about four years now. He's not really a coach anymore. He is more like a father. I look up to him so much. To tie his record was awesome, but I still have one more race to go."
  • [On his 400 IM strategy at '06 NCAAs] "Just go out fast and hold on for dear life. My whole family is here and I just wanted to make them proud."
  • [On breaking the 400 yd IM NCAA Record and winning another national title] "It feels good, the 400 IM is probably the hardest race for this kind of meet and to come up on top feels pretty good."
  • [On seeing Phelps at '06 NCAAs after his 200 IM race] "I knew he was here tonight,” Lochte said of Phelps. “I tapped him in the gut when I was walking over to the starting blocks.”
  • [On breaking Phelps' 200 yd IM American Record at '06 NCAAs] "I had no idea, I was just going out there and doing what I do the best I could."

    • 2005 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

  • [On his 200 IM semi at 2005 Worlds] "Well, the first swim for me is always the worst. It’s probably my best time. I got a lot of letdowns on my legs. I just did my best to go up there in the race. It was rough. I’m just going to give it all in the finals.”
  • [On his 200 IM prelim at 2005 Worlds] "I want to be a little bit faster because it seems I am late sometimes. I guess the race was okay, being one of the first times I swim in the competition. Hopefully, I will be ready for tonight.”
  • [At 2005 Worlds] "It is great to be in the same team as Michael (Phelps) and Aaron (Peirsol). We do a lot of team work. It is a great opportunity for me to learn and develop my skills. For me, to I just want to make the Top 8 and make it as easy as possible – that is all I can ask for. I am taking part of multiple events so I need to have enough energy for all the races.”
  • [On his 400 IM final at 2005 Worlds] " It was a real close race. I couldn’t really see the lanes and I couldn’t feel the other competitors. If I would have been closer, in the middle lanes, I would have had a better shot.”
  • [On his 400 IM prelim at 2005 Worlds] "It was a good swim so I am happy with where I am; (Oussama) Mellouli is a tough competitor. I don’t really know a lot about this event because I haven’t really swam it in an international competition. I hope to make the final and hope for the best.’’

  • "I've competed against (Phelps) many times, so it's no big deal to me"
  • [On racing against Michael Phelps] "I look at him as some other person I need to beat."
  • [On making the 2004 Olympic team] "I feel great, but still kind of shocked. I've been waiting for this since I first started swimming."
  • [More on making the 2004 Olympic team] "It's going to take a while to sink in. But that's good because I've got races tomorrow."
  • [On qualifying for the 2004 Olympics in the 200IM] "It's like I have no words. I can't describe it. I always dreamed of this my whole life. Now it's coming true."
  • [On the support he received after returning home from the Olympic trials] "When I came down the escalator and saw all the people I was like, 'Holy . . .It was amazing to see how many people came out to support us."
  • [On his 200IM race with Phelps at the 2004 Olympics] "We had our mind set on going 1-2"
  • [On his 2004 Olympics experience] "I'll always remember this Olympics. It was my first Olympics, my first medals, something I'd always dreamed about."
  • [On the 2008 Olympics] "I know there's a ton of room for improvement. I'm going to keep working, keep getting faster for (the) Beijing (Olympics in 2008). I know this Olympics wasn't my highest potential; that's what makes me excited to keep swimming."
  • "Things have changed for me as far as swimming because (the Olympic medals) have put me on a different level. But as far as me, I'm still the same guy who likes to get into trouble."
  • [On not turning pro] "I still want to swim in college. I talked about it with (UF) Coach (Gregg) Troy, and I think it's a good idea for me to keep swimming in college. We have a great team, and I won't let those guys down."
  • [On the ongoing rivalry with Australia] “The Australians are great competitors. They love to race and so do we. They’re always right there.”
  • "I love to race. No matter where I am or who I’m up against."
  • [On his busy schedule at the '04 US Open] "For as tired as I am, I’m doing pretty good. I’ve either gone my best times, or just off. I’m just happy to go out there and race.”
  • "Basically, if you want a piece of me, you're going to have to bring it."
  • "It's gonna be hard to do what I did at SECs because of how much support I had."
  • "I do think I have a bull's eye on my back, but there's nothing I can do about it except just go out and race and see what happens."
  • [On the 2005 NCAAs]"It's probably one of the fastest meets in the world, besides the Olympics, and everyone comes here to race."
  • "It’s nice to know people are starting to compare me with Michael Phelps and everything, but as far as people saying, “You and Michael have to race,” I don’t care about that. It doesn’t get in my head."
  • "I used to be the one going after every one, because I wasn’t the No. 1 swimmer, or whatever. Now, people want to race me, and I love to race."
  • "I'm satisfied, but at the same time I'm not. My expectations for myself are a lot higher. I know that I've trained harder than most people and that helps me."
  • [On people telling him his goals are too high]"I'd probably give them the finger. I'd throw in a couple of cuss words at them too. I guess everybody has their own opinion, but I know what I'm capable of doing."
  • "There's no way I've reached my peak. [There are] still a lot of ways to go for me in swimming."
  • "In [2008 at Beijing] I don't just want to make the Olympic team. I want to get gold medals and be the fastest person in the world. I've got to train hard."
  • "I don't really think before my races"
  • "I know [breaking another record is] what people are thinking. I don't really care, though. I'm not swimming for them; I'm swimming for myself."
  • "When I step on the blocks, I got a little town back home rooting for me. I think it helps push me."

    • Quotes about Ryan

  • "Ryan is certainly the best swimmer we've ever had at the University of Florida" - Florida coach Gregg Troy, after 2006 SEC Champs
  • "He's the best I've seen. Wish I had a whole team of Lochtes. Michael Phelps might have an edge in international experience, but Ryan is getting better every day." - Florida assistant coach Anthony Nesty, after the 2006 SEC Champs
  • “The guy works hard, does what you ask him to do and he is committed every day. It’s not a surprise that these things happen. He has trained with this in mind all year, so it’s hard not to be ready to go.” - Coach Gregg Troy on Lochte’s day 1 performance at '06 NCAAs
  • "Ryan is probably the hardest worker we've had the pleasure of coaching at the University of Florida. He listens to instruction well and isn't afraid of taking on a challenge. The most amazing (thing) is that he is the same beach boy as he was when he first came in. Success has not gone to his head one bit." - Florida head coach Gregg Troy at '06 NCAAs
  • "Success has not gone to his head one bit." Florida head coach Gregg Troy
  • "The most amazing [thing] is that he is the same beach boy as he was when he first came in." - UF coach Gregg Troy after '06 NCAAs

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